Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge 2019

The World Health Organization is pleased to announce the staging of the second edition of the “Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge” event on Sunday 19 May 2019 in Geneva.

Building on the success of the inaugural event held in 2018, WHO and partners are looking forward to engage the local and international communities in Geneva, and participants at the 72nd World Health Assembly to participate in the event.

The Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge will be a celebration of the importance of health and a recognition of the vital role that the city of Geneva plays as a hub for global health.

The event starts at 9.30 a.m. at Place des Nations and will be open to people of all ages and abilities and be held over different distances ranging from 3-8 kilometres.

This web page will be regularly updated with details on the 19 May 2019 event, including advice on registration.

Aims of the event

To raise awareness and profile of the work and goals of WHO and other global health agencies based in Geneva, highlighting the city’s role as a global health capital in improving global health.

Engage World Health Assembly delegates, the UN family and the Geneva community in a celebration of healthy lifestyles and ensuring all people can access the health services they need.

Continue promoting the global Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge movement to promote health and particularly physical activity as part of a healthy sustainable future.

Key information for participants

This is a free physical activity event for all, including for people walking, running and using wheelchairs.

The event is scheduled to start at at Place des Nations at 9.30 a.m. and end at 1.p.m. on 19 May.

It is inclusive and open to all ages and abilities, with accessible routes to enable participation of, as many people as possible.

People taking part should ensure they are physically healthy and prepared for the route or activity they are taking on. There will be many activities for participants to choose from to suit different levels of fitness and health.

Participants should take note of weather forecasts.

Drinking water will be available along the route, including from fountains located at Place des Nations, WHO and Villa Barton. Healthy snacks will also be on offer at Place des Nations.

Official photographers will be operating on the day and consent from participants is requested for their photo being taken and used by WHO for publicity.

Participants can receive a free t.shirt from the WHO and Dutch tents located at Place des Nations, while limited supplies of other giveaways will be available, including caps and water bottles.

Roads along the route will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10.a.m., except TPG buses which will be operating to regular timetables, except for 30 minutes from the start of the walk/run at approximately 10.45 a.m. from Place des Nations.

Routes will be clearly marked, but participants should approach any of the volunteers on the day with questions.

Medical services will be available throughout the route, including a station located at Place des Nations.

Participants arriving at the event on bicycles or motorcycles are encouraged to secure them at designated points at the WHO campus.

Participants should ensure that they are physically healthy and prepared for the various activities being offered during the event that you choose to participate in, ranging from walking or running the three routes, to partaking in the activities being staged at the locations being set up on the day. This is your sole responsibility.

By participating in this public event, you consent to your image being taken (through film, photograph, or other media) and used by WHO for publicity and communications purposes.

Music star, mental health advocate Korede Bello to perform at Walk the Talk event on 19 May

Music star and mental health advocate, Korede Bello from Nigeria, will perform at the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge event on Sunday 19 May, 2019, in Geneva.

“I believe mental health is so valuable a human commodity that it must be invested in and nurtured,” said Korede Bello, who is a supporter of the United for Global Mental Health organization.

“I can’t wait to share my passion for mental health through my music this Sunday at WHO’s Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge event in Geneva.”

Korede is expected to perform at 12.30 p.m. on 19 May on the main stage in Place des Nations before a speaking session dedicated to “leaving no one behind” and featuring fellow mental health advocate Cynthia Germanotta, who co-founded the Born This Way Foundation with her daughter Lady Gaga.

Leading race driver Romain Grosjean taking part in WHO Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge

Leading race driver Romain Grosjean, from Geneva, will be taking part in the second WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge event being held in his home city on Sunday 19 May 2019.

“I am delighted to take part in the WHO Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge in my home city of Geneva,” said Romain. “Such events show how important physical activity is to improving people’s health. I will also use the event to promote the need for road safety to be strengthened around the world.”

Romain plans to join the master running class starting at 10.45 a.m. on 19 May in Place des Nations, which is being led by champion marathoners Mary Keitany, from Kenya, and Tadesse Abraham, the Geneva-based Swiss runner born in Eritrea.

First Lady of Kenya to be special guest of WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge

The First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Mrs Margaret Kenyatta, will be the special guest at the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge, being held in Geneva on 19 May 2019.

“Physical activity has always been the lifelong secret to healthy lives and longevity for the people and communities around the world,” Mrs Kenyatta said. “That is why for years now, through Beyond Zero marathons, I have spelled out the case for wellness and heathy life choices to prevent lifestyle diseases and encouraged people to engage in physical activity.”

“The Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge. organized by the World Health Organization, is in line with my belief that physical activity improves the physical and mental health as well as the quality of life of individuals.”

“It is for this reason that on Sunday, 19 May 2019, I will join thousands of people from all walks of life to promote Health for All, encourage healthy life choices and celebrate the importance of moving for health.”

Mrs Kenyatta is a leading advocate for HIV prevention and the promotion of women and adolescent health, as well as a keen runner, participating in several long-distance events, including the London Marathon.

WHO staged the inaugural edition of the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge in 2018, attracting more than 4000 people from the Geneva public, local institutions and delegates to the World Health Assembly. This free event is open to people of all ages and abilities, and involves three connected routes of three, five and eight kilometres.

Champion runner Tadesse Abraham to join the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge

One of the world’s leading long distance runners, Eritrean-born Swiss champion Tadesse Abraham, has accepted an invitation to take part in the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge, being held in Geneva on 19 May, 2019.

“I am thrilled to be taking part in the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge in my home city of Geneva,” Mr Abraham said. “I love running, but that is just one of many ways people can move and be healthier. You don’t need to be a professional athlete to get moving for health.”

Mr Abraham has achieved multiple milestones in his running career: in 2016, he claimed the Swiss record, became the European half-marathon champion and took seventh place at the Olympic games in Rio. His sights are set on the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and elite national and international running events, including city marathons in London, Berlin and New York.

At the 19 May Walk the Talk event in Geneva, he will lead keen runners on a master class for a chance to run with the champion athlete.

WHO staged the inaugural edition of the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge in 2018, attracting more than 4000 people from the Geneva public, local institutions and delegates to the World Health Assembly. This free event is open to people of all ages and abilities, and involves three connected routes of three, five and eight kilometres.

Champion marathon runner Mary Keitany to take part in the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge

One of the world’s leading athletes, Kenyan marathon runner Mary Keitany, has announced her participation in the WHO Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge, being held in Geneva on 19 May, 2019.

“I am looking forward to joining people from all over the world in the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge in Geneva,” Mrs Keitany said. “This event is not about racing to cross the line first. It is about promoting the importance of physical activity, whether walking, jogging, using your wheelchair or dancing, to be healthier.”

Mrs Keitany is a multiple winner of major events, including the New York and London marathons. During the 19 May event in Geneva, she will lead a master class for enthusiastic runners keen for a chance to run with the leading international track champion.

WHO staged the inaugural edition of the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge in 2018, attracting more than 4000 people from the Geneva public, local institutions and delegates to the World Health Assembly. This free event is open to people of all ages and abilities, and involves three connected routes of three, five and eight kilometres.

Mental health advocate Cynthia Germanotta to speak at the Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge on 19 May

WHO is pleased to announce that Cynthia Germanotta, the prominent mental health advocate and co-founder of Born This Way Foundation, will take part in and speak at the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge event, being held in Geneva on Sunday, 19 May.

Mrs. Germanotta, who co-founded the Foundation with her daughter, Lady Gaga, will be joined on stage at approximately 12.45 pm on 19 May by other health champions to promote the need for all people, including those living with mental health conditions, to be provided with the services and support needed to lead healthy lives.

“I am excited to be taking part in the WHO Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge and honored to be joining advocates from around the world who are helping to make sure our youth can lead healthy, thriving lives,” said Mrs Germanotta. “My daughter and I started Born This Way Foundation with the belief that we can and must do more to support the well being of young people and this event is a powerful opportunity to show that mental health is an integral part of that goal.”

Born This Way Foundation strives to raise awareness of the importance of mental and emotional health, decrease stigma, and provide young people with better access to quality resources that meet their unique needs.

Mrs. Germanotta will be speaking during the Sunday 19 May 2019 Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge event at Place des Nations, Geneva.

Check the full programme and register to participate. The first 7000 participants will receive a Walk the Talk t-shirt.

Register to take part

Will you be in Geneva on Sunday 19 May 2019? If so, please join the second edition of the Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge. Come along by yourself, with your family or as part of a team. Please sign up by clicking here.

Social media

Demonstrate what you do to promote health and well-being by sending a photo, video or message through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #HealthForAll

Stage your own event

Since the first Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge was held in Geneva in 2018, editions of the event have been staged around the world, from Khartoum to Astana. If you are interested in holding your own similar event, please contact WHO at [email protected] for more information.